Wrestling has several styles. Freestyle (Olympic, for men and women) allows attacks with both arms and legs and rewards explosive throws and exposures. Greco-Roman (Olympic, men) forbids any holds below the waist, producing a spectacular upper-body throwing game. Folkstyle (US high school and college) emphasises control — riding the opponent on the mat — with escapes and reversals as key scores. Other traditional and folk wrestling styles exist worldwide. The international styles reward fast scoring and throws; folkstyle rewards mat control and dominance.
Key points
- Freestyle: all limbs, throws (Olympic)
- Greco-Roman: upper body only (Olympic)
- Folkstyle: control and riding (US)
- International styles reward fast scoring
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